Southern River Terrapin, Endangered Turtle, Released Into Cambodia River (PHOTO)

First Posted: 1/18/12
More pictures at The Huffington Post

Conservation groups are celebrating after an endangered turtle was successfully released into the wild in Cambodia this week.

The Southern River terrapin (Batagur affinis) was released into the Sre Ambel River after a special ceremony attended by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Singapore Embassy, the Cambodian Fisheries Administration's Conservation Department and other local officials, reports The Cambodia Herald.

The 75-pound female turtle, which has been fitted with a satellite tracking tag, is "one of the most endangered turtles on earth," according to a WCS press release.

The turtle is reportedly one of only 200 wild Southern River terrapins remaining in Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. In the Sre Ambel River, estimates tally fewer than 10 nesting female turtles, explained PhysOrg.